ClarissaMy family members were still mad at me because of Jalen and I felt bad because my dad and I have always been close. He was my go-to person whenever I had a problem but now he looked at me with so much disgust and hate in his eyes. The days rolled by and I hadn't heard from Jalen. I was preparing to go see Genevieve, my best friend and on my way out my mum stopped me and asked where I was going. I told her I was going to see Genevieve but she didn't believe me and she said I was hiding to go see my stupid Lycan mate. I told her no and that I haven't even heard from him. She then asked me when I reconciled with Genevieve because the last time she remembered we were not on speaking terms then I told her that she could call her to confirm and she called her. While they were speaking, I was so angry that my mum did not believe me. She hung up and muttered under her breath and went upstairs. I took deep breaths to calm myself and headed to my car yelling at my bodyguard to get m
I walked into the mall, the bright lights and bustling energy immediately lifted my spirits. Shopping took my mind off the chaos that was my life right now.I began wandering through the stores, taking my time to browse the racks and tables, trying on different outfits and accessories.As usual, I headed to the designer bags section and ended up buying several of them, a classic black leather tote from Gucci, a statement red velvet bag from Prada, and a sleek silver clutch from Chanel. They were all beautiful, and I couldn't wait to show them off.Francis, my bodyguard, followed closely behind me as I picked out the things that caught my eye. I tried on several different styles, from flowy maxi dresses to form-fitting bodycon styles. I finally settled on a beautiful emerald green wrap dress from Diane von Furstenberg, a romantic off-the-shoulder lace dress from Self-Portrait, and a playful ruffle-trimmed sundress from Zimmermann.I left the mall feeling much better than when I had arr
I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts of Jalen and the moment we shared outside. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was making a mistake by agreeing to marry Ivan. Marriage was a long-term commitment, and without love, how was such a marriage going to stand? But no one was in support of my relationship with Jalen because of the werewolf and the Lycan feud, and our romance was forbidden.I rolled over onto my side, pulling the covers up to my chin. I tried to clear my mind, but the image of Jalen's face kept creeping back into my thoughts. He was so handsome in a rugged way, with his dark hair and piercing hazel eyes. I remembered the way he looked at me, the way his eyes seemed to see right through me. It was like he could read my every thought and feeling.I groaned, feeling a pang of guilt in my chest as I thought about Ivan. He didn't deserve this and I knew marrying him was a huge mistake but I didn't have a choice. I tossed and turned, trying
The tension in my office was unbearably high. Ivan repeated himself, his voice filled with anger. "Are you deaf? I said leave."Jalen didn't move an inch. He stood there, his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze locked on Ivan. My heart panted with fear as I watched the two of them stare each other down."Jalen, please leave," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.But Jalen didn't budge. "I will leave when your stuck-up boyfriend learns his manners. It's stupid to talk to people like they're worthless," he sneered, his words filled with arrogance.Ivan burst out into laughter, his face twisted with derision. "Who the hell do you think you are, you bloody Lycan! Just because you bloody Lycans think you're stronger doesn't mean I'm scared of you."Jalen scoffed, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "I don't even plan to lift my finger because if I do, you will hate the outcome."The tension in the room was palpable. I could feel the anger and hatred emanating from both of the
It's been three weeks since I saw Clarissa last and it felt like my life was over. From blogs and magazines and the TV, her wedding to that bastard was drawing nearer. My days were a blur, filled with nothing but endless pain and heartache. I couldn't stand the thought of her being with someone else, of her loving anyone else.I avoided people at all costs including my family. I locked myself in my room, refusing to come out. I didn't want to talk to anyone, didn't want to see anyone. The only person I was in contact with was my sister Jaela and Cade. Jaela would come to my room every day, trying to talk to me and convince me to come out but I would just shut her out.The one time when my dad tried to talk to me I had an emotional outburst. I screamed at him to leave me alone, to leave me in my misery. I didn't want anyone to try and fix me, I just wanted to be left alone.I spent most of my time in an abandoned building. It was a crumbling old factory on the outskirts of town. The w
I headed to the swimming pool wearing my favorite red bikini. The sun was shining and the water was warm as I dove in. I loved the water and it always helped me to relax. I sipped my wine as I swam, enjoying the tranquility of the afternoon.But my peace was interrupted when I heard footsteps approaching me. I looked up to see my brother, Bryon, and Sydney walking toward me. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone and when I noticed that they were wearing their swimwear, I stepped out of the pool.Bryon closed the space between us quickly and prevented me from moving. "Come on, Rissa, how long are we going to continue like this? You've been staying away from everyone and it's becoming annoying," Bryon said, his tone frustrated.I wrapped a towel around myself huffing in annoyance. "What do you want from me?" I said, not in the mood to talk."Is this going to deteriorate and then we'll now practically live like strangers?" Sydney added, her tone concerned and her microblade brows looki
Preparations for my engagement with Ivan began in earnest. The closer the day came the more dreary my heart sank. Everyone, especially my mum, was ecstatic as they began to plan for the engagement ceremony. The house was filled with the sound of chatter and laughter as my mother and her friends discussed the theme, the guest list, and the menu. They were all so excited to celebrate this milestone in my life, but all I could think about was Jalen.My mum had even hired a team of professional decorators to make sure that everything was perfect. The dining table was set with fine china and crystal glasses, and the kitchen was filled with the delicious aroma of food being prepared for the big day. But as I walked through the house, all I could feel was a heavy weight on my chest and a sense of dread in my stomach. I tried to push thoughts of Jalen out of my head but they kept creeping back in. I found myself staring at the clock, counting down the hours until the ceremony, and wonderin
I was in the middle of sketching in the uncompleted building, my mind consumed with thoughts of Rissa. Her engagement was in just a few days and I still hadn't found a way to stop her from marrying Ivan. She was my mate, and she deserved to be with me, not that arrogant peacock. My anger boiled over and I threw my spray can against the wall, the yellow ink splashing across the concrete.Just as I was about to dive back into my sketch, I heard footsteps approaching. I turned to see my sister, Jaela, making her way towards me. "What are you doing here?" I asked, my tone brusque.She didn't answer, instead she began to cry, her tears a strangled sound. I knew something was wrong. I turned on our mind link, our special connection and she me that our mother had almost killed herself.I was stunned, the weight of her words hitting me like a freight train. I immediately dropped everything and rushed to Jaela's side. I couldn't believe that she would do something like that. "Where is she?"